What does our Future Look Like?

Never has a question felt so difficult to answer! As a primary school teacher and Education Officer for SPE, I have no idea. The only thing I hold onto is that as we approach a ‘new normal’, we will do as we have always done. We will do everything we can for the children, families and communities that we work with.

I do know though that school and education will look very different in the coming weeks and months.  Could now be the time to focus on what you feel is important?

Have you noticed how loud the birds seem?  In the madness of everything what have you seen, heard, smelt, felt, noticed?  Has it helped you to feel grounded?  Now more than ever, children and adults need to feel connected, both to people and the world around them.

Your School
Each school is going to be unique and individual now. How you make it work in your school is going to be very personal.

Time to make it yours: how could a whole school topic help? How can outdoor space be used? How can children work together on something whilst maintaining some sort of distance? What resources can be used?

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Your Classroom
You may or may not be back in school. You may be with your class or with a different year group. However it looks in your school, you are the link between children and their lives during and post Coronavirus. That link needs to be nourished so that it can be as strong, supportive and nurturing as possible.

We watched School of Rock last weekend; not quite real life but the values are there.  Now is the time to create whole group projects.  It will bring you together and provide each child a job to make them feel valued. 

What topic would they like to work on?  Can you develop an outdoor area with planting, painting rocks, pond in a pot, insect and hedgehog hotels, a zero waste challenge, an alternative sports day or an event for September? Follow Solar Power Education on Facebook or go to our website for lots of ideas and resources.

Your Home Learning
This has been a huge learning curve for both schools and home and there isn’t the perfect answer or solution.

We are trying to support and provide for children who may or may not have access to devices and internet, adults who are trying to juggle working from home and home learning and those that enjoy different activities and levels of independence.

In our school, we have found that whole key stage or school topics are well received as children can work on activities together and contribute their own ideas which helps them feel a part of school life. ‘What a Wonderful World’ speaks volumes at the minute and links directly to many of the resources we have.

Would you Rather .... ?
In our current situation, these can be the opening that children need to explore how they are feeling when sometimes they don’t know themselves or don’t have the words to express themselves, especially when you ask them why.

Here’s a few to start you off:

• Would you rather be a butterfly or a bee?
• Would you rather be a bird of prey or a garden bird?
• Would you rather be nocturnal or not?

These are great to talk about in class, in virtual meetings if you do them or for households to talk about at home.

What Could our Future Look Like?
Now is the time to realise the potential of this ‘new normal’; to give families experiences that are unique to this time. Help them to stop, notice, connect, experience and live. If we can do that, imagine what our future could look like.